Designed by PENSON,
Google Engineering's new London offices are a giddy exercise in science
fiction set decoration, replete with smooth white surfaces and bold
solid colors. I'll admit that as I paged through the publicity images,
it was a little hard to take them seriously. But this is a real working
space, and behind the glamour there are carefully considered affordances
for Google's working style.
For example, unlike Kubrick's eternally bare white corridors, PENSON
intends that Google's walls should be used. They are surfaced with
magnetic whiteboard material. This allows engineers to sketch out
solutions to problems, pin up working material, or project presentations
as needed. All of the desks are height adjustable, and much of the
floor space is given over to casual meeting spaces so that ad hoc teams
and discussions can form as needed.
Besides, who's to say that working spaces need to be ugly and drab?
Assuming that the day to day conditions are as functional as PENSON
says, the idea of heading into a fantasy spaceship environment for work
puts a big smile on my face. Perhaps they can pipe in this loop of the Enterprise's engines idling to complete the immersion.